Carrier fixtures



June 16, 1964 c. R. MEINARDI CARRIER FIXTURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1962 INVENTOR. C. F2. MEINARDI BY Q6 2 ATTORNEY June 16, 1964 C. R. MEINARDI CARRIER FIXTURES Filed March 5, 1962 INVENTOR. C. R. MElNARDl C. R. MEINARDI CARRIER FIXTURES June 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 5, 1962 INVENTOR. C R. ME\NARD\ BY 4 5 A-r- -onNny United States Patent I Ohio Filed Mar. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 177,431 2 Claims. (Cl. 105-148) This invention pertains to a carrier fixture used in conjunction with powered or manually propelled trolleys operating on a rail or track. Particular use for this type of carrier is in any application requiring smooth rotation of an item while traveling along a rail or track which has both horizontal and inclined runs, such as is required in the continuous dipping of suspended items in solutions for coating, pickling, painting or treating as in the dipping of automobile mufflers inporcelain slip, for complete internal and external surface coating or treatment.

In general the carrier fixture comprising the present invention consists essentially of a load bar suspended from overhead trolleys which permit the fixture to move on a track in a powered or manually propelled conveyor system, and a swinging rotating hook connected to the underside of the load bar by means of a plurality of universal joints and a pair of hinged arms to permit a hook swinging action, and a rotating drive wheel to continuously and smoothly rotate the hook within a bearing mounted between the hinged arms when the carrier is in motion, thus maintaining both the hook and the item suspended from it in substantially a vertical position throughout horizontal and inclined runs and to smoothly rotate the hook and item for complete coating or treatment when passed through a solution.

An object of the present invention is to construct a carrier that is relatively simple and easy to manufacture.

Another objective is to construct a carrier that can be readily adapted to numerous purposes, operating alone or in series, and propelled either manually or by power.

Still another objective is to have a carrier that can be adapted to run on a rail or track in almost any horizontal or inclined pattern necessary for thetprocess required and the space of the room available.

A further and most important objective is to have a carrier that can have the suspended work or item maintained in a substantially vertical position throughout the carrier runs, which runs may be both horizontal as well as inclined while at the same time through the unique angular transmission of power to smoothly and continuously rotating the suspended item while the carrier is in motion.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the fixture of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a breakdown of the essential parts of the fixture,

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the fixture, and

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the fixture.

Now referring again to the drawings, it can be seen that the carrier fixture consists essentially of a load bar that may be suspended from trolleys or the like as trough apertures 10A and 10B. The trolleys are for moving along a trolley track or rail (not shown) that is designed to fit the necessary pattern of movement in a conveyor system.

To the underside of load bar 10 is disposed an under frame 12 which consists essentially of two opposite vertical end braces 13A and B with a horizontal alignment plate 14 connected to the vertical end braces 13A and 13B slightly below the load bar 10 and containing in the space between the load bar 10 and horizontal alignment plate 14 the friction drive wheel 15. Near the base or end of "Ice the vertical end braces 13A and B and connected between them are side bars 16A and B. From side bars 16A and B is pivotally connected a pair of hinged arms 17A and B by means of bolts or pins 17C and D. The lower end of hinged arms 17A and B are connected to the outer race of a bearing 18 at diametrically opposite sides at points 18A and B of said bearing 18.

The hook portion 19 which holds the work or item to be carried has the typical hook end 19A at its lower end portion for suspending the work or item, and the cylindrical hook upper end portion or shank 19B which passes through the bore 18C, through the inner race 18D in the center of the hook bearing 18 to permit easy rotation of the hook portion 19 Within the bearing 18. The hook upper end portion or shank 19B is connected to the underside extension 20X of the first of at least two universal joints 20A. The underside extension 20X of this lower joint 20A being larger than the bearing bore 18A forms a seat to rest on the inner race 13B of the bearing and to support the weight of any suspended item. The upper half section of the bottom universal joint is shown as 203 and the upper universal joint sections shown as 20C and D. The universal joints 20A, B, C and D are disposed between the hinged arms 17A and B and between the vertical braces 13A and B and the side bars 16A and B. These universal joints permit a smooth rotation of the hook when the axis of the hook shank and drive wheel are out of alignment as when the carrier is moving on an inclined rather than horizontal run.

The top universal joints section 20D is in turn connected to the drive wheel lower tubular extension portion 15A beneath the horizontal alignment plate 14. The friction drive Wheel tubular extension portion 15A extends upward through an aperture 14A bushing 14B in the horizontal alignment plate 14 to afford alignment of the driver wheel and terminates at its upper end in the center of the friction drive wheel 15.

The friction drive wheel 15 is disposed between the load bar 10 and the alignment plate 14 and is of a diameter substantially greater than the width of the load bar 10 or the vertical braces 13A and B and alignment plate 14. This greater diameter of the friction drive wheel 15 permits the drive wheel 15 to be driven or rotated as it is pushed along in friction and pressure contact with a friction tuming rail 28 as the carrier is moved along on a trolley, tract or rail in a conveyor system in either a horizontal or inclined run. The drive wheel 15 in turn rotates about on a bolt 22 which is a mounting axle for guiding and centering the friction drive wheel in vertical alignment. The axle bolt 22 passes through an aperture 10C in the load bar 10 and has a nut 23 on its upper threaded end 22A and its lower or bottom end terminating in a filister head 22B of larger diameter than the bore 15A in the drive Wheel 15 so that the drive wheel is locked between the head 23A and the nut 23. It is possible that by the adjusting of nut 23 that the vertical play of the drive wheel 15 can be controlled.

The hinged arms 17A and B have as their additional purpose to maintain the swinging action of the hook essentially in one plane as well as to carry the weight of the hook and work. To insure insufiicient pressure against the drive wheel 15 to insure its constant rotation, a pair of additional side pressure rollers 24A and B, one on each side of the vertical braces, are provided. These pressure rollers extend slightly beyond the vertical plates to contact and roll along a pressure rail 29 located on the opposite side of the carrier from the friction drive wheels friction turning rail 28, thus to keep the pressure on the drive wheel 15 at all times to insure its continuous rotation. The side pressure rollers 24A and B are mounted in roller frames 25A and B which are in turn attached to vertical end braces 13A and B. The rollers 24A and B revolve around 3) axle bolts 26A and B with top and bottom spacers 27 to permit some vertical play in the pressure rollers 24A and B when rotating. Nuts 26C and D screws on the threaded end portions 26E and F of bolts 26A and B which extend through roller frames 25A and B to hold the rollers and spacers in place.

While other variations of the carrier fixture can be made within the purview of the present invention what has been described is manifestly a new and novel carrier fixture for which the following is claimed:

1. A carrier of the class described comprising a load bar, a rotating drive wheel that contacts a friction turning rail for rotating said drive wheel when said carrier is in motion, an axle bolt within said drive Wheel connected to said load bar so that said axle bolt remains substantially perpendicular to said load bar at all times and said drive wheel rotates around said axle bolt; a plurality of universal joints connected in series to the underside of said drive wheel; a pair of hinged arms pivotally connected at their upper end portions to said load bar, a hook bearing having an inner and outer race and disposed between and rigidly connected to said hinged arms at their lower end portions; a hook disposed through a bore in said hook bearing and connected at its upper end to the underside extension of the bottom universal joint of said plurality of universal joints, and said underside extension of said bottom universal joint being enlarged sufficiently to seat on top of the inner race of said hook bearing thus to carry the entire weight of an item suspended from said hook; a pair of pressure rollers connected'to said load bar, one of said pressure rollers being disposed on each side of and beneath said drive wheel and positioned so as to rotate against and exact pressure on a pressure rail on the opposite side from which said drive wheel rotates against and exerts pressure on its pressure rail thus to insure suflicient pres- 4: said inner race having a central bore; a pair of hinged arms each of said arms being pivotally connected at its upper end portion to the mid point of one of said side bars, and the lower end portions of each of said arms being connected at diametrically opposite points to the outer race of said hook bearing; a hook, and upper cylindrical shank portion on said hook closely fitting and extending through said central bore of said inner race of said bearing; an upper and a lower universal joint connected in series, a bearing seat formed by the underside extension of said lower universal joint for seating on the top of said inner race of said hook bearing and said bearing seat being connected on its underside to the top of said hook cylindrical shank portion; a drive wheel disposed between said load bar andsaid alignment plate with the axis of said drive wheel always perpendicular to said load bar and said horizontal alignment plate, and said drive wheel extending laterally beyond said frame so as to enable it to contact and be rotated by the pressure it exerts against a fricsure against said drive wheel to rotate said drive wheel when said carrier is in motion.

2. In a carrier device of the class described comprising a load bar, a frame connected with the underside of said load bar; said frame consisting of a pair of vertical plates perpendicular with and connected to said load bar, a horizontal alignment plate disposed beneath and horizontal with said load bar and connecting with each of said vertical plates, and a pair of side bars extending between and tion turning rail while said carrier is moved along said trolley track or rail; a drive Wheel tubular extension connecting said drive wheel with said upper universal joint, said drive wheel tubular extension extending from the underside of said drive wheel through a closely fitting aperture and bushing in said horizontal alignment plate and connecting with the top of said upper universal joint beneath said horizontal alignment plate; an axle bolt secured to said load bar at one of its ends and extending into a central hollow bore within said drive Wheel and said drive wheel tubular extension; a pair of pressure roller sections one of said sections attached to the outside of each of said vertical plates, a pressure roller within each of said sections and said rollers being positioned so that their roller surface will contact a pressure rail on the opposite side of said frame from the side of said frame that said drive wheel contacts its pressure turning rail thus insuring that sufficient pressure can be exerted against said pressure turning rail by said drive wheel to insure drive wheel rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,597,914 Whitworth et al. May 27, 1952 2,658,472 Ransburg Nov. 10, 1953 2,678,025 Straky May 11, 1954 2,806,581 Rees Sept. 17, 1957 

2. IN A CARRIER DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING A LOAD BAR, A FRAME CONNECTED WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID LOAD BAR; SAID FRAME CONSISTING OF A PAIR OF VERTICAL PLATES PERPENDICULAR WITH AND CONNECTED TO SAID LOAD BAR, A HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT PLATE DISPOSED BENEATH AND HORIZONTAL WITH SAID LOAD BAR AND CONNECTING WITH EACH OF SAID VERTICAL PLATES, AND A PAIR OF SIDE BARS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND CONNECTED WITH THE OUTER LOWER EDGES OF SAID VERTICAL PLATES; A HOOK BEARING HAVING AN OUTER AND AN INNER RACE WITH SAID INNER RACE HAVING A CENTRAL BORE; A PAIR OF HINGED ARMS EACH OF SAID ARMS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END PORTION TO THE MID POINT OF ONE OF SAID SIDE BARS, AND THE LOWER END PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID ARMS BEING CONNECTED AT DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE POINTS TO THE OUTER RACE OF SAID HOOK BEARING; A HOOK AND UPPER CYLINDRICAL SHANK PORTION ON SAID HOOK CLOSELY FITTING AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CENTRAL BORE OF SAID INNER RACE OF SAID BEARING; AN UPPER AND A LOWER UNIVERSAL JOINT CONNECTED IN SERIES, A BEARING SEAT FORMED BY THE UNDERSIDE EXTENSION OF SAID LOWER UNIVERSAL JOINT FOR SEATING ON THE TOP OF SAID INNER RACE OF SAID HOOK BEARING AND SAID BEARING SEAT BEING CONNECTED ON ITS UNDERSIDE TO THE TOP OF SAID HOOK CYLINDRICAL SHANK PORTION; A DRIVE WHEEL DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID LOAD BAR AND SAID ALIGNMENT PLATE WITH THE AXIS OF SAID DRIVE WHEEL ALWAYS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID LOAD BAR AND SAID HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT PLATE, AND SAID DRIVE WHEEL EXTENDING LATERALLY BEYOND SAID FRAME SO AS TO ENABLE IT TO CONTACT AND BE ROTATED BY THE PRESSURE IT EXERTS AGAINST A FRICTION TURNING RAIL WHILE SAID CARRIER IS MOVED ALONG SAID TROLLEY TRACK OR RAIL; A DRIVE WHEEL TUBULAR EXTENSION CONNECTING SAID DRIVE WHEEL WITH SAID UPPER UNIVERSAL JOINT, SAID DRIVE WHEEL TUBULAR EXTENSION EXTENDING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID DRIVE WHEEL WITH SAID UPPER UNIVERSAL JOINT, APERTURE AND BUSHING IN SAID HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT PLATE AND CONNECTING WITH THE TOP OF SAID UPPER UNIVERSAL JOINT BENEATH SAID HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT PLATE; AN AXLE BOLT SECURED TO SAID LOAD BAR AT ONE OF ITS ENDS AND EXTENDING INTO A CENTRAL HOLLOW BORE WITHIN SAID DRIVE WHEEL AND SAID DRIVE WHEEL TUBULAR EXTENSION; A PAIR OF PRESSURE ROLLER SECTIONS ONE OF SAID SECTIONS ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE OF EACH OF SAID VERTICAL PLATES, A PRESSURE ROLLER WITHIN EACH OF SAID SECTIONS AND SAID ROLLERS BEING POSITIONED SO THAT THEIR ROLLER SURFACE WILL CONTACT A PRESSURE RAIL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID FRAME FROM THE SIDE OF SAID FRAME THAT SAID DRIVE WHEEL CONTACTS ITS PRESSURE TURNING RAIL THUS INSURING THAT SUFFICIENT PRESSURE CAN BE EXERTED AGAINST SAID PRESSURE TURNING RAIL BY SAID DRIVE WHEEL TO INSURE DRIVE WHEEL ROTATION. 